Post Date December, 03 2023
Under normal circumstances, semen is in a liquid state at the moment it is discharged from the body, and after being ejected from the body, it will quickly solidify in a thick jelly shape. Generally, it will gradually liquefy within 5 to 60 minutes. If it remains in a jelly shape after more than 60 minutes, it belongs to poor semen liquefaction. The jelly shape of semen results in restricted sperm activity, leading to male infertility.
When visiting the andrology clinic, some male patients often ask: Is it abnormal that there are many clots in the semen and there are jelly like things one by one? There are also some men who have been infertile for several years after marriage and have been diagnosed as having poor semen liquefaction through routine semen examination at the outpatient clinic.
What is the shape of normal semen? How does poor semen liquefaction occur? What are the hazards of poor semen liquefaction? How should we handle it?
Prostate disease, which can lead to poor semen liquefaction
Under normal circumstances, semen is in a liquid state at the moment it is discharged from the body, and after being ejected from the body, it will quickly solidify and form a thick jelly. Generally, it will gradually liquefy within 5 to 60 minutes, releasing sperm from the semen, and the sperm will swim through the cervix and uterine cavity to the fallopian tube, where it combines with the egg to fertilize. This characteristic of human semen, which coagulates first and then liquefies, can prolong the retention time of semen in the female vagina, avoid the immediate outflow of semen just injected into the vagina, and gradually liquefy and release sperm within an appropriate time, which is conducive to increasing the chance of conception.
The coagulation and liquefaction of semen are mainly balanced and regulated by liquefaction factors and coagulation factors secreted by the prostate and seminal vesicles. Among them, coagulation factors are secreted by the seminal vesicles, including semen coagulation proteins and fibronectins, which can temporarily put semen in a coagulation state, mainly to prevent the newly ejaculated semen from immediately flowing out of the vagina. Liquefaction factors are secreted by the prostate gland, including proteolytic enzymes and hyaluronidases. Liquefaction factors can hydrolyze coagulation factors into many small molecular fragments, rapidly changing semen from a gelatinous state to a semi gelatinous state, and finally reaching a liquefied state, allowing sperm to dissociate and move. When inflammation of the reproductive system such as seminal vesiculitis and prostatitis occurs, imbalance in the secretion of the two types of factors mentioned above can lead to abnormal semen liquefaction.
Prostatitis, which can lead to poor semen liquefaction
"If semen cannot completely liquefy after ejaculation for more than 60 minutes, it is referred to as poor semen liquefaction.". Poor semen liquefaction, which is as thick as jelly, limits sperm movement, slows or inhibits sperm entry into the uterine cavity and fallopian tubes, leading to infertility.
Diseases such as prostatitis may lead to a decrease in liquefaction factors secreted by the prostate, leading to poor semen liquefaction. Therefore, when treating dysliquefaction of semen caused by prostatitis, it is often necessary to carry out anti infective treatment, together with the use of drugs to improve the secretion function of the prostate and physical therapy to improve local blood circulation. Also cooperate with daily health care, ejaculate once a week, reduce smoking and alcohol consumption, and avoid spicy C foods. The vast majority of semen liquefaction disorders can generally be cured after 2-4 weeks of treatment.
Assisted reproductive techniques such as intrauterine insemination can be used for patients with poor semen liquefaction who have poor treatment outcomes. "The semen is processed in vitro to promote semen liquefaction, and then sperm with good mobility is selected for injection into the woman's uterine cavity.".
Therefore, it is possible to completely avoid affecting fertility through formal diagnosis and treatment of C liquefaction deficiency.
